EPL Game Week 37

The title is now wide open. Nobody seems to want it. City, Chelsea and now Liverpool has faltered and the advantage is now with City. Win all their remaining games and the title is theirs due to their superior goal difference. Only Everton perhaps may pose a challenge at Goodison Park and do their Merseyside neighbour a big favour but Everton themselves have declined recently. 

Chelsea gave a master-class performance on how to win a match through defensive tactics and in that sense Mourinho is a genius. There were always two layers of defence to crowd out Liverpool. Their players raised their game. However, what Chelsea delivered was not just negative football but anti-football. Anti-football because they set out not to play, to waste time and to keep the ball out as much and as often as possible. Goalie Schwarzer took his time for every goal kick, Ashley Cole and the rest did not want to take the ball for throw ins. Even Mourinho himself kept the ball from Gerrard and Flanagan. The referee failed to control them by only flashing the yellow card at Cole only in the 92 minute. He should have done so after a warning early on from the 5-6 minutes. 

They were not just wasting time, they were tactically breaking Liverpool's rhythm and stride by doing so. Everybody loves to win and to win you need results but for Chelsea's wealth and spending, they ought to play a more exciting game. In sports, the spirit of sportsmanship is important. Finally, it was a disservice to football fans especially paying fans and many of you and I are. Other than this, it was a solid performance by Chelsea. 

Liverpool have been unstoppable. When you play teams like Arsenal, Man Utd., Man City and Tottenham they were different as they are attacking teams or at least counter attacking teams. Liverpool have so much faith and belief. They have torn every team apart. Hey but this is Chelsea under Mourinho. In romance and fantasy, the good guys win. The attacking philosophy should triumph. The swashbuckling hero gets the pretty princess but in real life, reality checks can be cruel. For a start, Liverpool missed Jordan Henderson whose constant running meant Gerrard's focus have been on sweeping and connecting all the dots in stringing the passes. Lucas and Joe Allen were too small to overcome Chelsea's burly midfield. For Gerrard, often labelled as Captain Marvel, Captain Courageous, it must have been extremely cruel for his mistake which led to Chelsea's first goal but the first mistake was committed by Sakho. 

It was okay to make a back pass if Gerrard was 10m back, okay if Gerrard was in that same position but another player behind him. Where was Skrtel? Squaring a ball to him at that position as a last man with Demba Ba nearby is a no-no in football. Lesson 101. Their defensive line was so high up at the halfway line. Brendan Rodgers for all his great ability in transforming Liverpool  to play at such a high tempo showed he is human after all. You need variety in your game pattern as an element of surprise for your opponents, not necessary to always get that early goal. Worst if you come to think of it, Liverpool just needed to draw this game as the worst result and it will still be in their own hands. So if Chelsea did not want to play then accepting 0-0 won't do any harm. Just be patient with them. Play their game. After all, Rodgers knew Mourinho from close quarters previously. This is Liverpool's best chance. The promise of YNWA (You'll Never Walk Alone) became YAWN (You Alone Walk Now) after having 75% possession. 

West Ham v Tottenham - The Hammers became bad again after a resurgence having lost their last four matches and though Tottenham have not lost in four matches, this is a London derby. Based on their last 5 meetings, they are even but West Ham won both matches in 2013. The Hammers should be safe in the EPL next season and Tottenham would miss European action again. 1-1.

Villa v Hull - Mathematically Villa can still go down. They have not won in their last 5 matches with 4 losses and one draw having scored only a meagre 3 goals. Hull are slightly safer with 2 points more than Villa. However, Hull have been on the slow boil in their last couple of matches but are still better than Villa who have home advantage. Draw. 1-1.

Man Utd v Sunderland - The Red Devils put on a more spirited display and won 4-0 when they last hosted Norwich. Giggs brought out a more adventurous side. Sunderland have only beaten Utd once in previous 5 meetings but they are in stellar form in their last 3 matches having held Man City 2-2 away, had Chelsea beaten away and then went on to crush fellow strugglers Cardiff 4-0. Sunderland are a position above the bottom 3 with a match in hand. Gus Poyet and his boys deserve something to stay in the Premier League. Their last 2 meetings were Sunderland 2 Man Utd 1 and then Man Utd 2 Sunderland 1. Expect the Black Cats to pu tout a good fight. Were Norwich poor rather than Man Utd were good last week? Draw. 2-2.

Newcastle v Cardiff - The Magpies are already safe. They were fortunate to have over achieved in the first half of the season. Looking just at their last 5 matches read LLLLL! Worse, they managed only a goal and got hit 14 times! Even relegation candidate have done better with DLWDL. The Magpies have nothing to play for except to save some pride but Cardiff may only be safe if the rest of the chasing pack lose all their matches and they win both their remaining ones. Newcastle have been so bad and Cardiff's thrashing by Stoke last week means it is impossible to hazard even a guess. I give them a goal each. 1-1.

Stoke v Fulham - In all their last 5 matches their record were identical - 2 wins, a draw and 2 losses. When they both met in the last 5 times, Stoke won 2 and Fulham won 3. All victories went to the home team. Fulham's fate are identical to Cardiff. They must win 2 remaining matches and hope the others lose. At at this level, life can be cruel. If you can't win titles, then have a good start it is safer just like Newcastle. 2-1.

Swansea v Southampton - With 39 points, the Swans are safe. The Swans look graceful above water but below, paddling like mad but yet registered 2 straight wins recently. They have never beaten the Saints in the last 2 years. Both are passing teams and can score goals but the previous 3 times they met were low scoring affairs with not more than 2 goals. The visitors are still the better team but being away, Swansea may have a leveller and this may see more goals than their previous meet. 2-2.

Everton v Man City - Everton were so close to getting to Europe but it is no longer in their hands meaning they have to win their next 2 matches and hope for Arsenal to stumble. It does not help that they are hosting Man City. An Everton win will boost their own chances and help their neighbour Liverpool. Even a draw will help. The good news for Everton (and thus Liverpool) is that since 2011 in their 5 previous meetings, both teams are level having drawn once, lost twice and won twice but they only won at home which means that City have not only not won at Goodison Park in 2012 and 2013 but lost both times. Since then City have been more impressive and scoring more goals but it seems their defence are not as strong while Everton have been even better under Roberto Martinez. City won 2-0 at Crystal Palace while Everton lost 2-0 at Southampton. This will be an interesting game. They both took turns to win a match previously and then they drew. This match will be a draw. 1-1. 

Arsenal v WBA - The Gunners used to start slow. This season they were quick off the block and then fizzled but they always finish strong. WBA are now safe and at 36 points with have a match in hand over the relegation rivals. Records of their last 5 match ups showed they Arsenal have never lost to WBA but they have drawn twice this year at the Hawthorns. Arsenal are on a blitz and seemed to have regained their swagger winning 3-0 away at Hull and then trouncing Newcastle 3-0 last week at the Emirates. Home win. 2-0.

(Arsenal v Newcastle)
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Chelsea v Norwich - Chelsea would have preferred to lose to Liverpool and win over Atletico Madrid if they have a choice. How cruel the soccer Gods have played their hands over Liverpool and Chelsea. Now Mourinho declared that he wanted to stay at Chelsea forever. After that master class performance at Anfield, Chelsea went limped. The Canaries should have done all within their powers when they first saw their match schedule programme. Their last 4 matches were cruelly arranged - Liverpool (H), Man Utd (A), Chelsea (A) and then Arsenal (H). Maybe only Norwich is equal to Newcastle in form with 5 straight losses on the trot. They are in very serious danger of going down. Chelsea could still mathematically win the title if City and Liverpool falter. But for sure they are angry over Champions League failure. 3-0.

Palace v Liverpool - Palace was on such a winsome trip till they lost 0-2 at home to City last week. Liverpool's results of the last 5 matches were identical and their 11 match victory march ended abruptly and cruelly at the hands of Chelsea at Anfield. Tony Pulis has done a great job since taking over but they do not often score more than a goal. Liverpool have to improve their defence. It has been their attack that has carried them this far. Liverpool are still fighting for the title if City drop any points even just one if they win both theirs. Suarez has not been as prolific of late. It should be time for him to score as he reached the record of highest score of Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo in a season after having been crowned PFA Player of the year. The PFA award aare nominations by their fellow professionals. In due time he may also win the Football Writers Player of the Year award which are nominations by sports journalists. It is also cruel for top teams to come so close and not win the title. Competition is cruel. So is life. 1-3.